Hermagor: County Town with a lot of History
The town of Hermagor has some 7,000 residents and is situated in the South of Carinthia, in the Gailtal Valley. It is a significant economic and administrative centre and was named after the first bishop of Aquileja, St. Hermagoras. Oldest records of a settlement near or at modern Hermagor date back to Celtic days. At this time, iron ore was mined in the area. In 15 BC, the Celtic kingdom of Noricum was incorporated into the Roman Empire.
In 1169, the village was first mentioned in a written document. Situated by a crossing of two major roads, it soon developed into an important meeting point for traders. In 1288, Hermagor gained the privilege of holding regular markets. Through this market, Hermagor became the main town in the Gailtal valley. A mark in the history of the valley came in the 15th century, when Turkish troops invaded and devastated the Gailtal valley.
Some Sightseeing in Hermagor
In 1868, Hermagor became the county town of a district that was named after it. In terms of sightseeing, there are the obligatory market square, the parish church and a few pretty burgher houses. During the summer season, Hermagor is not a very touristy place - at least not by Carinthian standards. One of the main sights is the small palace of Schloss Lerchenhof.
It was built in 1848 by a local nobleman named Julius Wodley just before his marriage. Unfortunately, the young man died before the building was completed. Nevertheless, it was finished and is now seen as one of the finest late neo-Classicist or Biedermeier buildings in all of Carinthia.
Another building worth noting is the small palace of Schloss Möderndorf. It houses the town museum or "Gailtaler Heimatmuseum", where you can immerse yourself in local history of the Gailtal and Hermagor. Winters tend to be a bit busier in Hermagor, with the nearby skiing area of Nassfeld being the main attractant for tourists.
Attractions of the Gailtal & Surroundings
Attractions nearby are mostly of the rural kind (like the Lesachtal) - however, Millstatt, Spittal an der Drau and Seeboden are within relatively easy reach. Going north, you will get to the National Park Hohe Tauern with Heiligenblut and the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße as the most popular places. Lienz in Eastern Tyrol is also a very scenic city best accessed from Western Carinthia.
Back to: "Carinthia
Sightseeing Guide"
Sightseeing by Austrian Province
Bregenz and Vorarlberg - Innsbruck and Tyrol - Salzburg - Salzkammergut - Graz and Styria - Klagenfurt and Carinthia - Wachau and Lower Austria - Vienna - Burgenland
Further Reading
Nassfeld Skiing Area (near Hermagor)
Tourism Board Hermagor & Nassfeld
